Public Record of Cases Heard In Edgartown District Court

Maurice A. Abisdid-Wagner, 23, of Oak Bluffs, was arraigned on July 24 charges in Edgartown of possessing a class B drug (cocaine), a number plate violation to conceal identity, operating a motor vehicle with registration suspended, registration not in possession, taking a number plate, uninsured motor vehicle, and unregistered motor vehicle. According to a police report filed in court, he was allegedly driving a vehicle that had stolen license plates attached, and cocaine was allegedly found during a vehicle inventory. The plates were allegedly stolen from a car parked at the Vineyard Haven Park and Ride. Bail was set at $500 and a pretrial hearing scheduled for August 19.

Kimberly A. Goodell, 44, of East Wallingford, Vt., was arraigned on a July 22 charge in Vineyard Haven of assault and battery. Pretrial hearing scheduled for Sept. 30.

Taylor L. Higgins, 19, of Oak Bluffs, admitted to sufficient facts on a Dec. 19 charge in Edgartown of larceny more than $250, continued without a finding for 18 months. Ordered to pay $600 in restitution, a $90 victim/witness assessment fee, and a $65 monthly probation services fee or community service alternative, and not to trespass at Trader Fred’s. Charge stems from allegedly stealing money from Trader Fred’s while employed there. In a separate case, admitted to sufficient facts on a Jan. 29 charge in Vineyard Haven of receiving stolen property more than $250, continued without a finding for eighteen months and ordered to counseling for six months or until professionally discharged, ordered to pay a $50 victim/witness assessment and same probation conditions as the above case. A charge of trespassing and two counts of criminal harassment were dismissed upon request of the commonwealth.

Taylor L. Higgins, 19, of Oak Bluffs, placed on six months of probation on May 5 charges in Vineyard Haven of intimidating a witness and criminal harassment, and ordered not to contact the alleged victim.

Timothy J. Luce, 26, of Edgartown, admitted to sufficient facts on a July 9 charge in Oak Bluffs of drunken driving, continued without a finding for one year. Ordered to pay $600 in fees and a $65 monthly probation services fee, to complete a 24-day driver alcohol education program and to lose license for 45 days. Found not responsible on charges of marked lanes violation and speeding in violation of special regulation, and a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle was dismissed upon request of the commonwealth.

Michael P. O’Donoghue, 57, of Oak Bluffs, arraigned on July 25 charges in Oak Bluffs of assault and battery and disorderly conduct. According to a police report filed in court, the charge stems from an alleged fight near the Sand Bar. Pretrial hearing scheduled for August 8.

Dana S. Olcott, 49, of Oak Bluffs, arraigned on a July 24 charge in Oak Bluffs of attempt to commit a crime. According to a police report filed in court, she allegedly tried to take a purse from Benito’s barbershop. Pretrial hearing scheduled for August 15.

David T. Perry, 49, of Foxboro, will have July 24 charges of trespassing and a municipal bylaw or ordinance violation dismissed upon eight hours of community service per charge by Sept. 4. He was allegedly found sleeping in the Harthaven beach area.

Theresa L. Praskach, 54, of West Tisbury, was arraigned on July 22 charges in Vineyard Haven of drunken driving, second offense, uninsured motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with registration suspended, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a number plate violation. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for August 19.

Michael D. Tebeau, 31, of Bellingham, was arraigned on July 25 charges in Oak Bluffs of assault and battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. According to a police report filed in court, the charges come from an alleged fight near the Sand Bar, and Mr. Tebeau allegedly used violent language and threatened police officers. Bail was set at $500 and a pretrial hearing scheduled for August 15.

Beth A. Tessmer, 43, of Edgartown, admitted to sufficient facts on a July 2 charge in Chilmark of drunken driving, continued without a finding for one year. Ordered to pay $350 in fees and a $65 monthly probation services fee, ordered to complete a 24-day driver alcohol education program and to lose license for 45 days. Found responsible of possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, ordered to pay a $500 fine/assessment. Charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of property damage were dismissed upon request of the commonwealth, and found not responsible on a marked lanes violation.

July 26

Christopher J. Andriotis, 56, of West Tisbury, placed on six months of pretrial probation on a June 26 charge in Oak Bluffs of assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife), ordered not to contact the alleged victim and stay away from an Olde School House village residence.

Michael J. Arruda, 39, of Oak Bluffs, placed on six months of pretrial probation on a June 26 charge in Oak Bluffs of assault with a dangerous weapon (a hammer), ordered not to contact the alleged victim.

Jason M. Canha, 41, of West Tisbury, pleaded guilty to a March 28 charge of domestic assault and battery in West Tisbury, ordered to one year in a house of correction with 119 days of credit given, all fees waived.

Jason M. Canha, 41, of West Tisbury, pleaded guilty to a March 29 charge in West Tisbury of assault and battery, placed on probation for 18 months. Ordered to remain alcohol-free, attend a batterers’ program, to undergo Vivitrol screening and treatment as mandated by probation. The end date may be advanced if conditions are met. Ordered to pay a $65 monthly probation services fee upon release.

Henry T. Coito, 56, of Vineyard Haven, admitted to sufficient facts on a May 17 charge in Edgartown of littering trash, continued without a finding for six months. Ordered to complete 30 hours of community service, pay a $50 victim/witness assessment fee and to pay a $50 monthly probation services fee. According to a police report filed in court by Edgartown Det. Sgt. Christopher Dolby, Mr. Coito was allegedly throwing newspapers from his vehicle while traveling along Barnes Road. This normally would have been handled roadside, Detective Dolby wrote, but there is indication that Mr. Coito, a former Edgartown highway department employee, “has engaged in a pattern of conduct over a lengthy period of time that has become borderline criminal harassment.” He said that since Mr. Coito left the department in 2010, there allegedly have been numerous incidents where he attempted to harass employees of the highway department, particularly the foreman. There were allegedly complaints that he was littering newspapers on roads since his departure, and an officer allegedly observed vehicles “swirling” around his vehicle once. He also allegedly called the highway department while disguising his voice, once pretending to be an elderly female who needed her driveway plowed off the clock.

Chase N. Eppers, 17, of Edgartown, arraigned on a July 7 charge in Edgartown of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Bail set at $5,000 surety, pretrial hearing scheduled for Sept. 6.

Asa W. French, 27, of West Tisbury, pleaded guilty to July 19 charges in Edgartown of forgery of a check and uttering a promissory note falsely endorsed, and, in other cases, pleaded guilty to Jan. 24 charges in Edgartown of larceny from a building and using a motor vehicle without authority, pleaded guilty to a March 2 charge in Edgartown of assault and battery, amended from assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a car). Ordered to one year in a house of correction with 60 days to serve, balance suspended 18 months and placed on probation 18 months and eight days of credit given. Ordered to pay two $90 victim/witness assessment fees and a $50 victim/witness assessment fee, to have level three probation sanctions and to participate in the New Paths program, and to submit a DNA sample. A charge of unarmed burglary was dismissed upon request of the commonwealth. Found not responsible on March 20 charges in Vineyard Haven of no inspection/sticker and a charge of operating a motor vehicle with license suspended was dismissed upon request of the commonwealth. A Jan. 1 charge of larceny from a building in Edgartown and a Jan. 24 charge of unarmed burglary in Edgartown were dismissed upon request of the commonwealth.

David T. Perry, 49, of Foxboro, arraigned on a July 26 charge in Oak Bluffs of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime for a felony. The charge stems from allegedly sleeping in a an East Chop house that had been foreclosed. Pretrial hearing scheduled for Sept. 6.

Antonio C. Simoes, 54, of West Tisbury, pleaded guilty to a May 18 charge in Oak Bluffs of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, placed on probation for one year. Ordered to pay a $50 victim/witness assessment and a $50 monthly probation services fee and to complete 32 hours of community service by Nov. 27. A charge of drunken driving was dismissed upon request of the commonwealth and found not responsible on a marked lanes violation.

July 29

Paige Demedeiros, 19, of New Bedford, admitted to sufficient facts on a July 21 charge of drunken driving in Oak Bluffs, continued without a finding for one year. Ordered to pay $350 in fees and a $65 monthly probation services fee, to complete a 24-day driver alcohol education program and to lose license for 210 days. A charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle was dismissed upon request of the commonwealth.

Filip Kovachev, 20, of Oak Bluffs, was arraigned on July 27 charges in Oak Bluffs of larceny of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of property damage and marked lanes violation. According to a police report filed in court, a gray Ford pickup truck was involved in a one-car crash on Barnes Road on Saturday, with tire marks indicating that the truck left the roadway and struck a telephone pole and two nearby trees. The report said there was visible damage to the truck and the telephone pole, which will require replacement. The driver of the vehicle was not with the truck, the report said, and could not be found despite a visual and thermal camera search of the woods nearby. The registered owner’s employee had custody of the vehicle, and a friend allegedly borrowed it from the employee without permission. The driver allegedly said he crashed the car because he saw a skunk or another small animal. Bail was set at $500 and a pretrial hearing scheduled for August 9.

Gustavo B. Souza, 18, of Vineyard Haven, was placed on six months of pretrial probation on a July 4 charge in Oak Bluffs of conspiracy to violate drug law. The charge stems from police allegedly observing a drug transaction in an alley. Ordered to remain drug and alcohol-free and not to contact the other in the case.

Shane K. True, 31, of Vineyard Haven, arraigned on a June 14 charge in Oak Bluffs of uttering false check, and in a separate case, of uttering false check on July 8. Pretrial hearings scheduled for Sept. 19.